Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold is one of the largest national parks in the Netherlands, spanning the provinces of Drenthe and Friesland. While the majority of the park is in Drenthe, a smaller section lies in Friesland, hence the name. The park offers a stunning mix of forests, heathlands, shifting sand dunes, and small lakes. Especially during the blooming season, the purple heather attracts many hikers and nature photographers.
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful hike, birdwatching, or scenic cycling routes, Drents-Friese Wold is a perfect destination for nature lovers.
I discovered a beautiful route on the Het Drents Landschap website, winding through the park’s extensive heathlands. Visiting in early September, the purple heather was in full bloom. The trail is marked with purple signposts, making navigation simple and scenic.
The visitor center is quiet and unstaffed. It provides plenty of information about the area, including the former sheep herd once kept here. You can help yourself to coffee with cash, and toilets are available. Paper brochures in multiple languages are offered. I took one with me for the hike I had planned. My bicycle was safely parked at the center.
The Doldersummerveld, north of Doldersum, is a vast wet heathland at the edge of the Vledder- and Wapserveensche Aa valley. It is one of the largest wet heaths in Western Europe, a truly unique landscape in the Netherlands. Thanks to this special habitat, rare butterflies live here. On my day, it was fairly damp, so most butterflies remained hidden.
Walking through a small gate, the grasslands open up, quickly leading to the blooming heathlands. The purple signposts are clearly visible and complement the natural colors perfectly. In the distance, I spot the sheep herd with a shepherd and a lively sheepdog. The sheep are focused on grazing, while the dog wagged its tail energetically but kept watch over the herd. It’s delightful to see the sheep freely wandering between the grasses and heather.
At the end of the trail, a somewhat hidden watchtower appears. The Jan Veentra Watchtower, standing 13 meters tall, features stairs and multiple viewing platforms. From the top, you get a sweeping view of the purple heathlands. On my return, I meander along winding paths, pass a herd of cattle, and walk through a forest section back to my bike.
After Doldersummerveld, I cycled to Appelscha in Friesland, where I started a self-planned node network walk of approximately 8 km.
At the start, I noticed that the Bosberg Tower is open until 18:00. Since it was later in the afternoon and cloudy, I decided to hike first. The forested trail offered a very different experience from the heathlands earlier that day.
The path winds through the woods, passing an open-air theater. On a clearing, a node network post is clearly visible with bright markings. Some posts also show the “wet noses route”, welcoming dogs along the trail. Unfortunately, rain began to fall, so I put on my rain jacket. Despite the drizzle, the hike remained enjoyable. Between trees and shrubs, I discovered a water pond called Kraaiheidepollen. The sunlight reflecting on the water created a perfect spot for photos with pins.
Passing a large sand area and a climbing forest, I eventually reached the Bosberg Watchtower. It was closed, but given the cloudy weather and rain, this didn’t matter much. After a coffee at a local café, I cycled back to my caravan in Wapse. The ride home was a treat: the sun broke through, nature sparkled, and I spotted wild horses.
Some websites about this area (all in Dutch)
Our Photos
We take photos with our iPhone, mirrorless camera, or compact camera.
We don’t edit our experience photos with colors or filters; all the colors you see are exactly as we observed them.
A Walking Pin
Would you like a pin as a souvenir? You can click here.
Other Hikes
If you’d like to read more about our hikes, check out our overview page.
